(Nov. 6, 2026) – The webinars are designed to give parents, students, community members, and local leaders an in-depth opportunity to discuss the critical factors shaping children’s development.
Media Contact: Christian Davis, CDF-Ohio Research Manager, cdavis@childrensdefense.org, 513-315-0462
COLUMBUS, OH—On Monday, the youth advocacy organization, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-Ohio), will launch its Defending the Whole Child Policy webinar series. The sessions will focus on child well-being, covering topics such as family stability, economic mobility, children’s health, and education.
The webinars are designed to give parents, students, community members, and local leaders an in-depth opportunity to discuss the critical factors shaping children’s development. This series builds on a statewide virtual and in-person listening tour CDF-Ohio held earlier this year, where staff visited urban, rural, and suburban communities, including the Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus metropolitan areas, and the state’s Appalachian region, to ask families what supports their children need.
The webinar discussions will also discuss findings from the Annie E. Casey Foudation’s 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book. That report analyzes the well-being of children, in states, across the country. This year, the report ranked Ohio 27th for child well-being. It highlighted that in Ohio there is significant room for improvement, particularly regarding child poverty, education, and health outcomes.
What: Defending the Whole Child Policy webinar series kickoff
Where: Family Stability and Economic Mobility Webinar – Zoom Registration Link
When: Monday, November 9 | 12 p.m. EST
“Defending the whole child means looking at all the supports young people in Ohio receive and asking if our leaders and communities are truly helping them thrive,” said CDF State Director Dr. John Stanford. “We hope these conversations empower parents and children to identify what our state needs to build a better future for its young people.”
Monday’s webinar, which begins at 12 p.m. EST, will examine family stability, economic mobility, and how to best address the needs of foster children in Ohio. The schedule for the rest of the planned webinar series can be found here. Links to access future webinars in the series can be found here.
“Participants in our listening tour emphasized the need for expanded emotional, social, and mental health support for their children, as well as dedicated trauma assistance,” said CDF-Ohio Research Manager Christian Davis. “We were also joined by youth currently or previously involved in the justice system, who shared their perspectives on youth and social justice. We hope to have similar conversations during our webinar series, as they provide unique insights into the issues impacting child well-being that we might not otherwise hear.”